Elvaston Place

This stunning maisonette sits in a Georgian apartment building at the end of a terrace and features an interior that contrasts stunning period features with striking modern design, playful details. Our team collaborated with the designers, Michaelis Boyd and Diapo, to integrate the distinctive staircase into the home.

Inspired by Staircase III, Do Ho Suh’s 2010 installation for Tate Modern, the staircase is suspended from the ceiling creating a striking architectural form that appears to float in the space. The stair flights and balustrade panels are formed from 5mm pre-galvanised mild steel. These were perforated and then power-coated in bright red to echo the transparency, porosity and distinct colour of Suh’s installation. Lateral loads on the balustrade are resisted with a combination of plate bending and membrane action generated by tension forces in the hangar panels.

The project formed part of a wider refurbishment and connection of two separate first and second floor apartments to create one large maisonette.

The result is a structure that is practical that achieves a surreal artistic aesthetic without losing sight of its practical purpose.